 FIP-infected kidney showing inflammatory response Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal, incurable disease that affects cats. It is caused by Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus (FIPV), which is a mutation of Feline Enteric Coronavirus (FECV/FeCoV). Experts do not always agree on the specifics of FIP. However, the most common theory is that the normally benign FECV mutates into FIPV. The mutated virus has the ability to invade and grow in certain white blood cells, namely macrophages. The immune system's response causes an intense inflammatory reaction in the containing tissues. Fewer than 1 in 20 cats survive the contraction of this disease, however its incidence rate is roughly 1 in 5000 for households with one or two cats. [1] ImageMetadata File history File links FIPHisto1. ...
Binomial name Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis lybica invalid junior synonym The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. ...
Coronavirus is a genus of animal virus belonging to the family Coronaviridae. ...
“White Blood Cells†redirects here. ...
An abscess on the skin, showing the redness and swelling characteristic of inflammation. ...
Transmission and infection FECV is very common, especially in places where large groups of cats are kept together (animal shelters, catteries, etc). Cats become infected by inhaling or ingesting the virus. The most commonly cited transmission source is feces, although contaminated surfaces such as food dishes and clothing can transmit the virus as well. Dog at a no-kill animal shelter in Washington, Iowa An animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats. ...
Despite the prevalence of FECV, most infected cats do not develop FIP. Often exposure to FECV produces no clinical signs, but may cause a mild upper respiratory disease. Therefore, a cat without clinical signs may still be an FECV carrier and may pass the virus to another cat. In any cat infected with FECV there is a chance that the virus may mutate into the FIP causing form. This chance is increased for cats that are immune compromised including very young and very old cats. There is also thought to be a genetic component to susceptibility to viral mutation.
Signs
 A cat with marked ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen), a hallmark sign of FIP There are two main forms of FIP: effusive (wet) and non-effusive (dry). While both types are fatal, the effusive form is more common (60-70% of all cases are wet) and progresses more rapidly than the non-effusive form. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 342 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (456 × 800 pixel, file size: 44 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This photo is old is is on half-a-hundred websites about FIP...I doubt I can track down the original source of the photo. ...
Image File history File links Size of this preview: 342 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (456 × 800 pixel, file size: 44 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This photo is old is is on half-a-hundred websites about FIP...I doubt I can track down the original source of the photo. ...
ImageMetadata File history File links FIPFluid. ...
ImageMetadata File history File links FIPFluid. ...
Effusive (wet) The hallmark clinical sign of effusive FIP is the accumulation of fluid within the abdomen or chest, which can cause breathing difficulties. Other symptoms include lack of appetite, fever, weight loss, jaundice, and diarrhea. Jaundice, also known as icterus (attributive adjective: icteric), is a yellowing of the skin, conjunctiva (a clear covering over the sclera, or whites of the eyes) and mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia (increased levels of bilirubin in red blooded animals). ...
Non-effusive (dry) Dry FIP will also present with lack of appetite, fever, jaundice, diarrhea, and weight loss, but there will not be an accumulation of fluid. Although typically a cat with dry FIP will show ocular or neurological signs. For example it may become hard to walk or stand up, the cat may become paralyzed over time. There could also be a loss of sight. For other uses, see Eye (disambiguation). ...
Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. ...
Diagnosis The signs associated with FIP are often non-specific, which can cause diagnosis to be very difficult. A definitive diagnosis requires examination of affected tissues for the FIP virus. This is usually performed post-mortem, but can be performed via tissue biopsy. Histopathological examination of tissue samples is usually the cheapest and most reliable available diagnostic test. A PCR test is also available for use with fluid or certain tissue samples, however, its efficacy is currently being reviewed. ImageMetadata File history File links FIPCytology2. ...
ImageMetadata File history File links FIPCytology2. ...
Neutrophil granulocytes (commonly referred to as neutrophils) are a class of white blood cells and are part of the immune system. ...
A macrophage of a mouse stretching its arms to engulf two particles, possibly pathogens Macrophages (Greek: big eaters, makros = long, phagein = eat) are white blood cells, more specifically phagocytes, acting in the nonspecific defense as well as the specific defense system of vertebrate animals. ...
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of a single human lymphocyte. ...
Histopathology is a field of pathology which specialises in the histologic study of diseased tissue. ...
Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...
More commonly, a presumptive diagnosis is made based on clinical signs and evaluation of abdominal or chest fluid, if available. Fluid caused by FIP tends to be yellow in color and have elevated protein levels. Blood tests can also be performed to bolster a presumptive diagnosis by looking for coronavirus antibodies and elevated protein. Coronavirus titers are not considered diagnostic in and of themselves due to the ubiquity of FeCoV, but may be used in conjunction with clinical symptoms to make an FIP diagnosis. It is important to note that cats with higher titres of FCoV are no more likely to develop FIP than those with lower titres. Cats with no exposure to FCoV cannot develop FIP. A titer (BE: titre) is the unit in which the analytical detection of many substances is expressed. ...
Treatment As there is no cure for FIP, treatment is symptomatic and palliative. Typically the owner is advised to make the cat as comfortable as possible until it becomes clear that the cat is suffering. Prednisone or other immunosuppressive drugs prescribed by a veterinarian may help to prolong the cat's life for a few weeks or months, but may be contraindicated in certain cases due to concomitant infection(s). Effusive FIP usually progresses too rapidly for any meaningful therapy to be attempted. In medicine, a disease is symptomatic when it is at a stage when the patient is experiencing symptoms. ...
Palliative care (from Latin palliare, to cloak) is any form of medical care or treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of disease symptoms, rather than providing a cure. ...
This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
Quarantine is not necessary as FIP is not truly an infectious disease. Feline Enteric Coronavirus is shed in the feces and can be passed on to other cats, however, it is the mutated form of the virus that leads to FIP. This form is only found in macrophages and is therefore not shed and not contagious. Macrophages (Greek: big eaters) are cells found in tissues that are responsible for phagocytosis of pathogens, dead cells and cellular debris. ...
As FIP signs can be easily overlooked, it is highly advised to have your cat examined by a licensed vet at any signs of chronic diarrhea, unusual lethargy or respiratory infection. While treatment will only be symptomatic, it may prolong the life of the cat as well as soften the blow to the owner.
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